In the United States started testing the world's largest unmanned ship "Sea Hunter"

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    Full displacement "Sea Hunter" is about 140 tons in transit 40 tons of diesel fuel. The ship is equipped with two diesel engines that can reach a maximum speed of 27 knots (49.8 km per hour) and is designed for a conditional 70-day mission. If successful, the tests of the US Navy plan to build a flotilla of unmanned ships of this type.

    The “Sea Hunter” was developed by the United States Defense Development Research Agency (DARPA) and the defense firm Leidos. For two years, the vessel will be tested off the coast of California. According to the representative of DARPA Jared Adams, unmanned vessels will expose people to less danger during military operations.

    Program Manager Scott Littlefield said that during the tests at the Sea Hunter there will be personnel capable of taking control in case of danger (partly because the ship cannot recognize the bell, whistle or gong from other ships). The destroyer is not yet equipped with weapons, but the Pentagon notes that the prototype has not only a military purpose - later unmanned ships will be used for commercial purposes, phys.org reports .

    The military originally built a small warship designed to search for and destroy submarines, but the developers say that it is possible to go beyond these limits, for example, to use the “Sea Hunter” in conjunction with a mine sweep .

    There is a possibility that a full-sized prototype could open the way for the development of unmanned cargo ships for the commercial shipping industry. The countries of Europe and Asia are interested in the development of a flotilla of unmanned ships, as this will help reduce operating costs, but the idea triggered a debate about whether robotic ships can be made safe enough for autonomous work far from the ground.

    The International Federation of Transport Workers , representing the interests of more than a million seafarers, said they did not believe that such a technology could replace a person’s ability to anticipate and respond to various hazards at sea.

    The Sea Hunter was built off the coast of Oregon and moved by barge to the San Diego coastline to begin testing. "The prototype is equipped with various sensors and an advanced optical system for detecting other ships," said Littlefield.



    The development of such a ship cost 120 million, although Littlefield said that now only $ 20 million might be needed for production.

    During testing, the ship will follow international traffic regulations for ships of this size. And while there are no standards for unmanned ships, Littlefield believes that this may change after the end of the experimental stage.

    For many years, the Navy has experimented with a variety of unmanned systems: from unmanned helicopters to small, remote-controlled boats launched from ships. The budget of the Pentagon over the next five years provides for investments for more powerful naval vessels, including $ 600 million, which will be invested in the development of unmanned underwater vehicles.

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